“Keep the Roadless Rule in place. Protect biodiversity and native plants, wildlife habitat, clean water…”

Keep the Roadless Rule in place. Protect biodiversity and native plants, wildlife habitat, clean water, outdoor recreation, and climate-resilient forests for future generations. No Action Alternative: Ask the USDA to move forward with the No Action Alternative 1 and keep the Roadless Rule intact. Protect Our Last Intact National Forests: The Roadless Rule safeguards some of the most pristine and undeveloped national forest lands in the country, including the Los Padres National Forest. Repealing these protections would open over 40 million acres to new road construction and increased industrial development, including over 600,000 acres in the Los Padres National Forest. Protect Wildlife Habitat and Biodiversity: Roadless forests provide vital habitat for wildlife, including mountain lions, black bears, the California Condor, and many more throughout the Los Padres region. Building roads fragments ecosystems and puts biodiversity at risk, including not just these iconic animal species but also the native plant ecosystems on which they rely. Keep Drinking Water Clean: Roadless areas protect critical watersheds and headwaters that provide clean drinking water to communities across the nation. More roads can lead to erosion, sedimentation, and declining water quality. More Roads Mean More Wildfire Risk: Despite claims that repeal would improve wildfire management, research shows that wildfires are more likely to start near roads because roads increase human access and ignition sources. Existing roadless protections already allow many forest management and fire mitigation activities.